Hot smell after hill climb

[Seafog2023F150]

Hi all . I’ve noticed since new that when I go up a a particular hill climb , approx 2 mile long , that there’s a hot smell coming from the car . A little similar to hot brake smell but clearly not due to hill climb.
Gauges are all sitting fine .
my suspicion is it’s the catalytic converter ?
Also since new there is always water dripping from the tailpipe so I’m wondering if the smell is a result of moisture burn off after a strong climb .
vehicle is a 2023 XLT 3.5 EB .
Wondering if anyone else has experienced these things and has any answers .
Thankyou

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[Gros Ventre]

I have a business I go to alot that is just over the crest of a hill. In order to keep the engine off the turbos, I shift the transmission to manual and downshift to get engine rpm high enough to do that. It is common for me to smell "hot oil" after the climb. Never noted any loss of engine oil. No indication of high temps... Just odd.

 

[Seafog2023F150]

Thanks . Yes I can’t put my finger on it yet other than my theory on the cat burn off . ?‍

 

[Zig10]

Mine did that for the first 10,000 miles or so. I live at the top of a fairly steep hill, and every time I towed my boat up to the house I could smell the block cooking off after I parked in the driveway. It eventually went away, but yes, these engines generate some serious heat under load.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I attribute this smell to the aluminum block. Aluminum transmits heat far better than iron blocks do. If you have any drippage from filling oil or maybe an oil leak, that extra heat will yield a smell from cooking off residual oil. ...And who doesn't sometimes drip some oil when filling after a changeout?

 

[Seafog2023F150]

Thanks for the input . All sounds feasible .

I attribute this smell to the aluminum block. Aluminum transmits heat far better than iron blocks do. If you have any drippage from filling oil or maybe an oil leak, that extra heat will yield a smell from cooking off residual oil. ...And who doesn't sometimes drip some oil when filling after a changeout?

 

[Xman]

Have you modified the radiator cover in front of the air intake and added the $16 Cobb bracket to prevent the intake duck from curling up at the higher power settings. These could benefit your situation at very little cost.

 

[Seafog2023F150]

Have you modified the radiator cover in front of the air intake and added the $16 Cobb bracket to prevent the intake duck from curling up at the higher power settings. These could benefit your situation at very little cost.

No I havnt , but thanks Ill look into it ?

 

[Seafog2023F150]

Have you modified the radiator cover in front of the air intake and added the $16 Cobb bracket to prevent the intake duck from curling up at the higher power settings. These could benefit your situation at very little cost.

I just looked it up . $20 part but will cost me nearly $200 in shipping to Australia ! The joys of owning a US truck down under ?‍

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Thanks . Yes I can’t put my finger on it yet other than my theory on the cat burn off . ?‍

No I havnt , but thanks Ill look into it ?

Take a look at this link…

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-11006778-0001.pdf

Does your truck have this area below I shaded in RED cut out?

 

[Seafog2023F150]

Take a look at this link…

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-11006778-0001.pdf

Does your truck have this area below I shaded in RED cut out?

No it doesn’t

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

So this TSB turned into a recall for some trim models in 2024. I’ll try to find the thread, but there is a pretty evolved thread here about cutting this area out.

Essentially, what the issue is is this. That air deflector or what we used to call the upper cowl cover flexes. The turbos pull so much air it distorts and it moves upward toward the hood. This in turn closes off a good bit of air and the right side turbo gets starved air. This causes an over speed issue.

Many people who had issues with this talked of a smell a lot like what you’re talking about as well as a weird sound.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...arger-on-3-5l-powerboost-lariat-xlt-xl.27749/

 

[Seafog2023F150]

So this TSB turned into a recall for some trim models in 2024. I’ll try to find the thread, but there is a pretty evolved thread here about cutting this area out.

Essentially, what the issue is is this. That air deflector or what we used to call the upper cowl cover flexes. The turbos pull so much air it distorts and it moves upward toward the hood. This in turn closes off a good bit of air and the right side turbo gets starved air. This causes an over speed issue.

Many people who had issues with this talked of a smell a lot like what you’re talking about as well as a weird sound.

Thankyou very much. This also ties in the need for the Cobb bracket to reduce defection . Cutting out the section might be a better way for me as the shipping for the Cobb is 10x the cost of the bracket !

 

[Seafog2023F150]

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...arger-on-3-5l-powerboost-lariat-xlt-xl.27749/

The thread seems to imply that it only relates to the 2024 .
I’m thinking a permanent fix would be a raised air intake (snorkel as we call them ) and back that up with an upgraded cold air intake , albeit an expensive alternative .
It can’t hurt to cut out that section though

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